Power stake driver



Feb. 6, 1968 w. H. LAVERTY .POWER STAKE DRIVER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 27, 1965 NVENTOR. WAYNE LA VEQTY goda/m) S04/:m47 www newld A T TOP/VE YS.

Feb. 6, 1968 w. H. L Avr-:RTY

POWER STAKE DRIVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1965 Fig. 6

Y .W R mm mL V WH E M W and cross members 36 which serve to locate against transverse movement the bottom of a conventional level rod 37.

The upper portion of the body 1 carries a clamping member 38 (FIGURES 1 and 2) defining the U-shaped opening 39 adapted to receive the level rod 37. The clamping member 38 in its outermost leg 41 carries a threaded member 42 that can exert pressure on the side of the level rod to clamp it against the surface 43 of the clamping member 3S. This surface 43 of the clamping member is aligned with the surface 44 of the lower bracket 32 so that when the level rod is clamped in place it is essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of member 5.

The stake B of the invention is a helical member preferably formed of stiff steel Wire formed into a helix of numerous identical turns 45 defining an internal space permitting the turns to closely but loosely surround the shaft 14; the ttuns are uniformly widely spaced by a distance that facilitates threading of the turns into the earth when the stake is rotated; the round cross section of the wire also facilitates threading. Although the lower end 46 of the stake may be sharpened, it usually is not necessary for ease of penetration; the ripper end of the stake has a laterally-extending potion 47 for engaging the slot 29 of the rotatable member. The ymetal of which the stake is formed is stiff enough so that the Stake does not deform substantially when the stake is rotated from only its upper end. The extension of the lower end of shaft 14 inside the stake also aids in preventing lateral deformation of the stake. Stakes embodying the invention can be made of various convenient lengths for various uses and conditions.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a method of operating the stakedriving apparatus A. A stake B is selected of a length that will provide the desired firm grip when driven into the earth and the desired degree of projectiton above the earth. The amount that the shaft 14 projects below lower portion 2 is adjusted, if necessary, to permit the pointed end 16 of the shaft to project sufficiently beyond the stake surrounding the shaft to permit end 16 to penetrate the earth to locate and guide the stake, as shown in FIGURE l. Before or after such adjustment the stake B is slid over the lower portion of the shaft 14- and the upper end of the stake is demountably engaged by the stakeengaging means 9 of member 5, with the laterally-extending member 47 of the stake tting in the slot 29 of the engaging means and the top of the stake seating in the cup of the engaging means and being supported there by the magnetized base 31. The level (rod 37 can then be clamped on the apparatus with its lower end resting on the door 33 of the bracket 32. The preferred practice is to have the level rod clamped in place in the body 1 at all times while the apparatus is in use.

The switch 27 having been moved to its proper actuating position, the apparatus as a whole is manually located over the position where the stake is to be driven with the point of the shaft 14 in the earth; and the apparatus, the level rod and the leveling instrument C are adjusted so that the leveling instrument is sighted on the vertical level rod. The handle 26 of the control switch 25 is then moved to start the motor which positively rotates the rotatable member S causing the stake B to thread itself into the earth while it is guided by the shaft 14. It is merely necessary to insert the pointed end 16 of the shaft into the earth; depending on the texture of the earth, the shaft may or may not travel deeper than its initial penetration as the stake penetrates the earth; in any event the stake is guided by the shaft.

The stake is permitted to thread itself into the earth, causing the body portion of the apparatus to lower' until the operator at the leveling instrument C signals theoperator of the stake-driving apparatus that the proper level has been reached by his reading of the level rod, whereupon the apparatus operator releases the switch handle 26 to stop the motor and halt driving of the stake B. If the stake has been driven too deeply it can be raised the proper amount by causing the motor to rotate in the opposite direction by suitable actuation of switches 27 and 25. The proper level of the top of the stake is thus readily determined since the bottom of the level rod is essentially in the same horizontal plane as the top or the stake. The apparatus A is then merely lifted off the stake, which remains embedded in the earth with its top at the proper level.

If it is desired to mount a marker on the stake, the marker shown in FIGURE 7 is advantageous. This marker comprises a shaft portion 51, preferably formed of a stiff piece of wire, having permanently axed thereto a marking portion 52 of suitably colored material. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper end 53 of the wire forming the shaft 51 is bent at an angle as shown and the marking portion takes the form of a preformed sleeve or bag of colored plastic sheet or fabric that is heatsealed in place so that it cannot be removed from the Wire. The marking portion of course can be made of other sheet material or design.

The lower portion S4 of the wire 51 is bent upwardly as shown, so that the lateral distance between the outerrnost portions of the free end 55 of the wire and the shaft is somewhat greater than the inner diameter of the wire turns, so that when the wire is inserted into the threaded end of the stake, either by rotation of the marker shaft or by pushing it downwardly as a possible due to the resilience of portion 54, the free end 55 of the wire, due to the resilience of the wire, engages one of the helical turns of the stake. The marker, therefore, cannot be lremoved except by twisting it to unscrew it from the stake. This is difhcult because of the friction between the hook-shaped end of the marker and the stake, which is accentuated by the resilience of the wire. The difficulty of removing or destroying the marker is enough to discourage children or others who might desire to tamper with or remove the marker.

Both the stakes and markers of the invention can be made so inexpensively that they can be discarded after use, as by plowing them under or otherwise disposing of them in course of the work.

The invention thus provides apparatus and devices permitting the rapid and accurate driving of stakes with little physical effort, and also providing types of stakes and the markers therefor which will discourage or prevent undesired removal thereof once the stakes have been driven. It is apparent that various modifications other than those indicated may -be made in the apparatus and devices disclosed herein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for driving a stake to a predetermined level, comprising a support, a member mounted on said support for rotation about an axis, means for positively rotating said member about said axis, means on said rotatable member for demountably engaging the top of a stake to `be driven and for rotating said stake essentially about said axis as said rotatable member is rotated, and a guide member disposed coaxially of said rotating member and having a lower portion adapted to project through the stake and into the ground.

2. Apparatus for driving a stake to a predetermined level comprising a support, a member mounted on said support for rotation about an axis, means for positively rotating said member about said axis, means on said rotatable member for demountably engaging the top of a stake to be driven and for rotating said stake essentially about said axis as said rotatable member is rotated, and means on said support for supporting the bottom of a height-indicating member essentially in a plane that is normal to said axis of rotation and contains the top of said stake that is being driven.

3. Apparatus for driving a stake to a predetermined level comprising a support, a member mounted on said support for rotation about an axis, means for positively rotating said member about said axis, means including magnetic means on said rotatable member for demountably engaging the top of a stake to be driven to support said stake `before it is engaged with the material into which it is to be driven and for rotating said stake essentially about said axis as said rotatable member is rotated, and means on said support for supporting the bottom of a height-indicating member at essentially the same level as the top of said stake when said axis of rotation is essentially vertical.

4. Apparatus for driving a stake to a predetermined level comprising a support, a member mounted on said support for rotation about an axis, means for positively rotating said member about said axis, means on said rotatable member for demountably engaging the top of a stake to be driven to support said stake before it is engaged with the material into which it is to be driven and for rotating said stake essentially about said axis as said rotatable member is rotated, and means on said support for supporting the bottom of a height-indicating member essentially in a plane that is normal to said axis of rotation and contains the top of said stake that is being driven.

5. Apparatus for driving a stake to a predetermined level comprising a support, a member mounted on said support for rotation about an axis, means for positively rotating said member about said axis, means on said rotatable member for demountably engaging the top of a stake to be driven and for rotating said stake essentially about said axis as said rotatable member is rotated, means on said support for supporting a height-indicating member, and a guide member disposed coaxially of said rotating member and having a lower portion adapted to project through the stake and into the ground.

6. Apparatus for driving a stake to a predetermined level comprising a support, a member mounted on said support for rotation about an axis, means for positively rotating said member about said axis, means on said rotatable member for demountably engaging the top ot a stake to be driven and for rotating said stake essentially about said axis as said rotatable member is rotated, means on said support for supporting the bottom of a heightindicating member essentially in a plane that is normal to said axis of rotation and contains the top of said stake that is being driven, and a guide member slidably mounted coaxially of said rotating member and having a lower portion adapted to project through the stake and into the ground.

7. Apparatus for driving a stake to a predetermined level comprising a body having a lower transverse portion, an upper transverse portion spaced from and overlying said lower transverse portion, and an upright portion connecting said lower and upper transverse portions; a member mounted on said lower transverse portion for rotation about an axis that extends through both said transverse portions; means carried by said -body for positively rotating said member about said axis; means on said rotatable member for demountably engaging the top of a stake to be driven to support said stake before it contacts the material into which it is to be driven and to rotate said stake essentially about said axis as said rotatable member is rotated; means on said support for supporting the bottom of a level rod essentially in a plane that is normal to said axis of rotation and contains the top of said stake; and a guide shaft that is slidably mounted on said rotatable member coaxially thereof and has an upper portion extending above said upper transverse portion and a lower portion extending below said lower transverse portion and adapted to project through said stake.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the distance that the lower portion of said guide shaft projects below the lower transverse portion of said `body is adjustable.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said means for positively rotating said rotatable member is an electric motor, and in which there is a switch on said upper transverse member for controlling the operation of said motor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,849,903 3/1932 Blackwell 173-21 X 1,951,192 3/1934 Hantijopoulos 173-21 X 2,658,725 11/1953 Arps 173-121 X 3,032,126 5/1962 Rexine 173-163 X 3,148,739 9/1964 Mattingly et al. 173-46 FOREIGN PATENTS 533,086 11/1954 Belgium.

FRED C. MATTERN, In., Primary Examiner.

L. P. KESSLER, Assistant Examiner. 

